Advanced everything in CI/CD & Automation, page 5
Monorepo vs. Polyrepo: One Repository or Many?
A monorepo is one repository for all projects, like a city; a polyrepo is one per project, like separate towns. Monorepos simplify code sharing and atomic refactors but require complex tooling. Polyrepos offer autonomy but can create dependency hell.
Git Cherry-Pick: Copy a Commit to Another Branch
Think of git cherry-pick as copying a single commit's changes from one branch and reapplying them as a new commit on another. It's for backporting a bug fix without merging an entire feature branch.
GitFlow: A Branching Model for Versioned Releases
GitFlow organizes your repo around two main branches: master for production and develop for integration. It's designed for projects with distinct, numbered releases, like desktop apps, not for continuously delivered web apps where simpler models are…
Idempotency: Safe to Retry Automation
Idempotent automation ensures an operation has the same effect whether run once or many times. This is vital for safely retrying failed CI/CD jobs or configuration scripts. The footgun: thinking it means 'no side effects'.
GitOps: Your Git Repo is the Single Source of Truth
GitOps makes a Git repo the single source of truth for your infrastructure's desired state. An automated process makes production match what's declared in Git, enabling continuous deployment.
Immutable Infrastructure: Treat Servers Like Cattle, Not Pets
Immutable infrastructure means you never modify running servers. To deploy, you replace them with new ones built from a golden image. This is key for CI/CD and autoscaling, ensuring consistency. The footgun is configuration drift from manual, one-off fixes.
Pipeline as Code: Versioning Your Build Process
Treat your CI/CD pipeline not as clicks in a UI, but as a version-controlled file (Jenkinsfile) living with your code. This enables automated, reviewable build processes for every branch. The footgun is defining pipelines in the UI, creating a black box.
We are hiring for this. Every open role lists the topics its interview covers, so you can prepare for the real thing rather than guessing.
See open roles